OSTEOCLASTOMA-LIKE ANAPLASTIC-CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID-GLAND DIAGNOSED BY FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY - REPORT OF 2 CASES

BACKGROUND: Thyroid diseases are common among the female population in Iran; the main one is endemic colloid goiter. Thyromegaly can be due to neoplastic and nonneoplastic disorders. The clinical distinction be tween benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid gland is sometimes di fficult. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) study can be used as a prelimina ry step for identifying such lesions. CASES: Two female patients aged 54 and 62 years were admitted to Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, with t he chief complaint of weight loss, rapid enlargement of the thyroid gl and for the last few months and pressure symptoms in the neck. Clinica lly these cases were diagnosed as malignant thyroid lesions. However,f or further diagnosis the tumors were aspirated. The smears revealed nu merous osteoclastlike giant cells with intranuclear inclusions and num erous, isolated oval to spindle-shaped malignant cells. The smears wer e diagnosed as osteoclastlike anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. CON CLUSION: FNA is useful in the diagnosis of osteoclastomalike anaplasti c carcinoma of the thyroid.